Another thing fans wanted was a lefty starter-now Drew Smyly feels THAT role. Fister wasnt a difference maker in this rotation (actually SANCHEZ was) and in a seven game series,Fister would only start ONE of those games. he was VERY expendable.

Another thing fans wanted was a lefty starter-now Drew Smyly feels THAT role. Fister wasnt a difference maker in this rotation (actually SANCHEZ was) and in a seven game series,Fister would only start ONE of those games. he was VERY expendable.

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I completely agree with you. My point was simply that they didn't HAVE to get rid of Fister to make the other moves. On paper, we should be one of the favorites to win the World Series right now.

Both Kelly and Coke have re-signed. However, they can be released during Spring training before the season begins, and the Tigers only owe them a small portion of their salaries. I think they both will be released.

Nathan is 39, but they don't call him "horse" for nothing. He shows not signs yet of slowing down.

Read somewhere -- maybe SBNation -- that others think this Fister move is a real head-scratcher. Dombrowski claims it was not a salary dump, but I think it is. I realize Fister wasn't making that much in MLB standards but every little bit helps, right? The more time I've had to think about it, I would have rather seen Porcello depart. Porcello was lousy in the playoffs. I do like having a lefty in the starting rotation. I could see Nathan breaking down a la Sheffield.

Fister is more consistent than Porcello, so I would have preferred keeping him in our rotation too. But the Nationals probably said Fister or nothing and a salary relief may have been what was needed for another future deal.

My bad @ only $165M Payroll was roughly $150M They trimmed off ~$30M but will add $20M back on before MaxS _____________________________________________ Re: Joba He's been hurt a lot and is almost cured of Tommy John surgery. Take from the Yanks, always good. His WHIP was 1.548 in 2012 and 1.738 in 2013, when he allowed 47 hits, eight home runs and 26 walks in 42 innings. His ERA was 4.93.

For Chamberlain, though, the strikeouts still have been there, and that must be most appealing to the Tigers, who often can display tunnel vision when it comes flamethrowers. Chamberlain has averaged nearly a strikeout an inning the past four seasons.